Belo says Timor must decide own future

DILI (JP): Dili Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo called on the government and international forums on Thursday to let the East Timorese decide on the fate of their troubled province.

"We believe the solution lies with the East Timorese through a common vision and perception about the future of the province," Belo said at the opening of a two-day dialog involving local public figures in Dare, West Dili.

Fifty people attended the dialog, including local legislature speaker Armindo Soares Mariano, East Timor Military Chief Col. Tono Suratman, local police chief Col. Timbul Silaen, Dili Mayor Mateus Maia and Dili regent Domingos Maria Das Dores Soares.

Baucau Bishop Basilio do Nascimento, who was one of the initiators of the dialog, did not attend as he is still on a trip to Europe.

Belo said he, along with Basilio, were asked by the local government to initiate the dialog to defuse the mounting tension between those for and against integration in the province in recent weeks.

"We are attending the dialog to seek reconciliation among us all," added Belo.

The bishop admitted to a ray of hope existing that the East Timor question could be settled since an agreement was reached between Portugal and Indonesia under the auspices of the United Nations. The agreeement was to hold in-depth discussions on Indonesia's proposal for special status and wide-ranging autonomy for the province.

The United Nations-sponsored talks aimed at finding an acceptable solution have dragged on since 1983. A new opportunity appeared to open up when economic and political turmoil in May ended three decades of rule by former president Soeharto.

President B.J. Habibie's administration had given conciliatory gestures and promised amicable solutions, including autonomy, to the issue.

In a further gesture, the Armed Forces completed the withdrawal of more than 1,000 combat troops from East Timor earlier last month.

However, the government remains steadfast in its rejection of a referendum in the province to decide its future.

The former Portuguese colony was integrated into Indonesia in 1976 but the U.N. still recognizes Lisbon as the administrative power. (33/byg)